Sunday, August 1, 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The government is studying how to deal with the excess supply of rice filling up the warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA) , President Benigno Aquino III said on Sunday.

Eight more flights in four local destinations of embattled flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) have been scrapped due to the abrupt exodus of a number of their greenhorn pilots, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said on Sunday.

Two international flights of the Philippine Airlines, which were scheduled to leave Sunday, were also affected by problems arising from the resignations of some of its pilots, delaying their slated departures from their points of origin by 30 minutes.

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Sunday said the pilots who breached their contracts with flag carrier Philippine Airlines by leaving their duties without prior notice could be charged in court.

The Supreme Court has reversed the Court of Appeals ruling that ordered Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City to pay the back wages and other benefits of one of its cashiers who was dismissed for dishonesty in 2005.

Chief Justice Renato Corona, who presided over the high tribunal's first division, ruled that the appellate court erred in its decision that found the resort management guilty of illegally dismissing Nito Dual.

Danao City Councilor Remedios Durano-Meca and Talisay City Councilor Eduardo Gullas III yesterday announced their complete lineup for the upcoming provincial elections of the Philippine Councilors League.

Meanwhile, Councilors Emmarie Lolipop Ouano-Dizon of Mandaue City, Mercury Fernandez of Pilar, Rodolfo Cabigas of Talisay City, Emmanuel Jo of Balamban, Alfonso Pestolante of San Remigio, Robert Selma of Minglanilla, Samuel Moralde of Daanbantayan and Napoleon Teves of Santander will run for Board of Directors.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has already started its investigation on the complaint filed against former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña for spending more than P1 million to launch the South Road Properties (SRP).

THE Cebu City Government acquired new vehicles for 20 of its department heads, a P27-million purchase that officials prepared for when they worked last year on the city's budget, said Councilor Joey Daluz.

But Daluz said he will also recommend an auction of all vehicles in the City Government that were bought five years ago or earlier, as one way to bring down fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

The General Services Office (GSO) has asked for P30 million to be included in Supplemental Budget (SB) 4 for fuel, oil and lubricants for the City Government's 1,273 vehicles, from October to December.

Daluz found the amount too much and asked the GSO for an inventory of City Hall's vehicles. He said the city might save some money if it disposes of vehicles five years old or older.

The councilor chairs the committee on budget and finance in the city council. He told the GSO to submit a report to his office and to Mayor Michael Rama within this month.

GSO started the inventory last week, following the councilor's request.

Meanwhile, the mayor personally distributed the new vehicles to the department heads and asked them to meet his expectations.

The mayor is using a new maroon Montero Sport these days, but he clarified it is only a service unit Mitsubishi lent him while the company repairs his vehicle.

He said he hopes the new vehicles will boost the department heads' pride and confidence in performing their duties efficiently.

"They should be sensitive now that they are having that mobility, mo-enhance gyud ilang serbisyo (their services will be enhanced). Nganong dili man ta mag-expect ana (Why shouldn't we expect that)?" Rama said.

Rama earlier asked the department heads for a list of activities they intend to execute in his first 10 days.

The activities were identified in focus group discussions.

Department heads who fail to deliver on their commitment will be questioned, he said.

Butuanon River is Class D, meaning water from the upstream area can still be used for drinking and washing, but the middle and downstream portions are for industrial purposes or used as a drainage canal.

The DENR 7 report states the agency considers monitoring the water quality of the 23-kilometer Butuanon River one of its major concerns.

The tests measure BOD concentrations and oxygen levels.

The BOD is a measure of the oxygen used by microorganisms to decompose waste. A high BOD value means a large quantity of organic waste is present in the water supply, which requires a lot of bacteria to decompose the waste.

Butuanon's BOD levels increased in April and June, with values pegged at 172.9 mg/L or 11 times higher than the standard. This was mainly due to the summer or dry season, the report said.

There were improvements in water quality between July and September, but the average value taken during monthly tests from January to December 2009 was 51.8 mg/L.

This is three times higher than the standard compared to levels recorded in 2008.

"There is an increase in the pollution of the Butuanon River compared to 2008 data," the report said.

Highest

Compared with the 2007 BOD average result of 48.2 mg/L or just three times higher than standard, the latest figures are the highest in three years.

The environment agency, in its report, said monitoring activities are part of efforts for stakeholders to improve water quality, in response to complaints from the public.

A large portion of the pollution, DENR 7 said, comes from industrial effluents. The highest average BOD level was taken from the Cambaga-ong station (168.6 mg/L), the most polluted portion of the river.

"On the other hand, the most upstream (portion of the river) has the lowest BOD of 2.07 mg/L since lesser pollutant sources are located in that station. This confirms that the most polluted part is the downstream portion of the Butuanon River. This shows that the river is still far from rehabilitation," the report stated.

Guadalupe Latonio, Citizens' League for Ecological Awareness and Responsibility (Clear) head, told Sun.Star Cebu there has been minimal or no change in the quality of water in the Butuanon River for years.

"There are no more easement zones, the people are going right into the river," sheadded.

The environment group regularly conducts riverbank protection activities such as tree planting and river clean-up drives.

Latonio made a presentation before lawyers at the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) session last Saturday.

"Results (of tests conducted on the river) are not very good in the Mandaue City side. But in the upstream portion of the river, particularly at Binaliw-Pulang Bato area, the water is still good," she said.

Latonio also noted that the Butuanon River Watershed Management Board was dormant for 10 years, but was recently revived by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes. But there are still questions raised on where to source funds and personnel for the board.

President Benigno Aquino III's executive order that created the Truth Commission has pitfalls that could hamper the body's success in probing alleged corruption in government in the last nine years, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Sunday said. Santiago said Congress must first pass a law creating the commission or allowing the Office of the President to form the body.

President Benigno Aquino III joined Filipinos all over the country in observing the first death anniversary of his mother, democracy icon and former president Corazon Aquino, on Sunday, by attending a holy mass at La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong City.

... calls on nation to pursue ideals of the late presidentPRESIDENT BENIGNO C. Aquino III yesterday asked the nation to rally behind him in fighting poverty and corruption -- concerns that he inherited from past administrations -- as the nation remembered the death of his mother, former president Corazon "Cory" C. Aquino, exactly a year ago.

On the first anniversary of Cory Aquino's death, outspoken Bishop Socrates Villegas warned President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III about the dangers of being power-hungry and called on him to leave a legacy of a government totally different from what he has inherited. In a dig at ex-president Gloria Arroyo, Villegas urged Aquino to "make it easy for your successor."

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III said there is no midnight deal between Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson and former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chair Efraim Genuino.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said on Sunday Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson might have a tough time before the Commission on Appointments, if the public would not buy his response to allegations that he had pushed a questionable water concession deal before the new Aquino administration came in.

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the Civilian Volunteers' Organization (CVO) reportedly involved in the Maguindanao massacre is now in the hands of police authorities, after being shot by still unidentified persons.

A significant percentage of workers employed in the country's business process outsourcing (BPO) sector - majority of whom working in call center facilities - are suffering from work-related health problems, a recent study showed.

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) upheld a ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) that dismissed the government's criminal formation charges against businessman Dante Tan who controls Best World Resources Corp. (BWRC).

BOGOTA – Colombian President Alvaro Uribe denied Saturday that he planned to launch a military attack on neighboring Venezuela, denouncing President Hugo Chavez after Caracas ordered troops to the border.

ATHENS-- Greek truckers were to debate Sunday whether to continue a week-long strike that caused a massive fuel shortage at the height of the country's tourism season as officials raced to restock supplies.

The death toll in the massive flooding in Pakistan surged past 800 as floodwaters receded Saturday in the hard-hit northwest, an official said. The damage to roads, bridges and communications networks hindered rescuers, while the threat of disease loomed as some evacuees arrived in camps with fever, diarrhea and skin problems.

The Alaska Aces just wouldn't allow Chot Reyes, the Talk `N Text coach, to celebrate his birthday at their own expense. Playing with more focus and energy, the Aces thrashed the Tropang Texters, 94-83, to forge a deciding seventh game in their PBA Fiesta Cup semifinal series.

MANILA, Philippines – Amid rumors of their break-up, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, girlfriend of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, on Sunday showed up at La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong City where a Mass was held for the first death anniversary of the President's mom, Corazon Aquino.

MANILA, Philippines – Actress-television host Kris Aquino has ruled out any possibility of reconciliation between her and husband cager James Yap.

"I acknowledged in my heart naubos talaga yong love, April 26 of this year. May nasabi siya sa anak ko, which I will forever keep between the 2 of us. May nasabi siya, sa galit namin sa isa't isa siguro, noong panahon na yon na nasaktan talaga ako. At nagpatunay talaga sa akin na this is not the man for me, this is not the man I want to stay with because dinadamay na niya ang 3 years old na bata na dapat protektahan nating dalawa," she said.

WASHINGTON DC, United States—People who sleep more or fewer than seven hours a day, including naps, are increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, a study published Sunday shows.

Evidence has emerged in Cagayan province of a human that lived more than a dozen millennia before the so-called Tabon Man of Palawan, long thought to be the archipelago's earliest human remains. A team led by archaeologist Armand Mijares of UP Diliman found a foot bone at least 67,000 years old. Tabon Man was a mere 50,000 years old.